Welcome To The Boot Bomb, Where We Take Outdoor Footwear Very Seriously!

Do you think all footwear is created alike? Think again! Hiking boots are a completely different beast than your average walking shoes.

I have learned the importance of good footwear many years ago, when I gave myself plantar fasciitis by walking around on worn down budget boots for too long. I’ve gone through weeks of pure agony with every second I was standing up straight (which was most of the day). But I was quick to learn my lesson. I have since owned many different kinds of boots, such as KEEN, Ahnu, Merrell, Columbia and New Balance.

Too many people aren’t using their heads when it comes to buying the right kind of footwear for themselves. Maybe you’ve ever heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Why? Because it’s the first meal of the day. Your day has to start well from the bottom up, or the rest of the day will be a waste. So is it too with the shoes. They are the most important clothing item that you will ever posess. Yes, even more important than a good pair of underpants.

He who invests in a solid pair of comfortable boots for walking, will do himself a great favor. It is perhaps the best investment you can make. When you are experiencing discomfort or sometimes even flat out pain whenever you are taking a walk, your shoes will be to blame 9 out of 10 times. Make sure you’ve got a solid set of boots on your tootsies, and your pain problems will melt like snow in the sun. Boots were made for walking and you need to ensure you’ve got a couple of well fitting, correctly sized, high end, high quality boots on your feet to make sure your day goes as well as it can.

No matter how sturdy the boots you are wearing are, eventually… wear and tear will definitely set in. You have to evaluate your boots every once in a while. Like, every 6 months or so. This is especially important for boots that you are wearing all day, every day.

And just because you’re a certain size at age 20, that doesn’t mean you’re always going to be that size for the rest of your life. Few people are aware of the fact that our feet ‘grow’ an extra size or two once we hit our fourties. I’m putting ‘grow’ between apostrophes here because they don’t actually grow… it’s just that they get bigger because our feet start flattening out under the weight of our very own bodies.

A few decades of having to experience gravity will do that to a person. And it’s inescapable too. Sooner or later, it will happen to everybody. Not only does the foot grow in length, but it also grows in width.

In other words… there are plenty of reasons why you should evaluate your boots once every few months. It’s in your own best interest. If you want to evaluate your footwear, ask yourself the following questions.

Are My Boots Worn Out?

Now matter how well made your black/brown rubber/leather boots are, eventually they will wear out. Once a boot starts showing its first signs of wear and tear, you can extend its lifespan by having it properly patched and/or repaired. Be sure to be in time with this, because once wear and tear starts setting in too heavily, there is nothing you can do to save that shoe anymore.

Worn shoes are about the worst thing you can do to yourself. They will not provide you with proper support and you’ll get tired sooner because of this. It’s very bad for you, especially if you are a young person and your body is still developing.

Are My Boots The Right Kind For My Activities Of Choice?

What’s your daily activity? Are you just a guy that goes to work everyday? What kind of job do you have anyway? Are you an office worker or a factory worker? Does your job involve sitting a lot, or does it involve standing up and walking a lot? Or do you not have a job at all and are you living in a cabin in the woods?

The more outdoor activities you undertake, the more you will have to spend on a decent set of safety trail boots. You don’t want to go trekking through the jungle or the mountain with a pair of sneakers. You’ll be sorry when you get to your first mud puddle, or the first protruding rock you didn’t see while trekking on a rough terrain. I cannot stress enough the importance of a good pair of trekking boots for hikers!

Do My Boots Have The Proper Width For My Feet?

If your boots do not have the proper width, you’re gonna have a bad time. If they are too wide, you will not have enough support. If they are too small, then you will not have enough comfort. Both are bad. Just make sure that boot has the right width for your personal feet.

Do My Boots Have The Proper Length For My Feet?

When your boots aren’t long enough, you’re not going to have enough room to wiggle your toes. You always need to be able to wiggle those toes when you are wearing a shoe. You don’t want those toes to be wrapped up like pigs in a blanket. They need some breathing room. Your toes are important when it comes to walking. They keep you balanced.

But even when boots have the right width and length… this does not automatically mean those toes will be comfortable. Every shoe has a different inner shape. You always need to test your toe space, too. So ask yourself…

Do My Boots Accomodate My Toes Well Enough?

The best hiking boots will make sure that there is plenty of room for your toes in there. The worst thing about a pair of boots with a bad fit is if they are hurting those toes. Don’t you just hate it when your toes are all curled up and the inner wall of the shoe is rubbing up against your toe? That can lead to some ugly chafing damage. Don’t bother trying to fix this by wearing thick socks. They will only take up more space and cause you even more discomfort, pain and wounding in the long run.

Do My Boots Give Me The Support I Need?

Everybody’s feet are different. Some people have flat feet. Others have high arc feet. If you’re in between, you’ve hit the feet jackpot, because you’re dead onto the golden mean. But still… everybody’s stance is different. Most shoe salesmen will have a device that you can stand on and it will measure where your feet are exerting the most pressure onto the ground.

Based on your personal, unique foot profile, a good shoe salesmen will be able to recommend you the best pair of combat boots for you personally. And even when he doesn’t have any shoes available that will provide you the support you require all on their own, then he will likely suggest a pair of insoles for you.

Never underestimate the importance of a good set of insolves in your trekking boots. Spend that little extra bit of money on insolves if the situation asks for it. You’ll be glad you did!

How To Buy The Right Boots For Your Personal Situation

If you are in the process of buying a new pair of boots, you would want to see to it that the one you do end up with is the best that you can find. You know that wearing the right footwear matters. So, you want to make sure that before you head out to a store to make your orders. You need to see to it first that you have a good idea of the things that you need to consider to ensure that at the end of the day, you do choose appropriately. Here are tips for you to consider.

Take the time to find out what are the pairs that you need to secure before you decide to pay for such a service. This is a good time for you to take a closer look at your needs. You will find that making a choice is going to be a lot easier for you to do when you have a good idea of the things that you want out of the pair that you are hoping to take advantage of. This is the best way for you to ensure that when you finally make a choice, it is going to be most appropriate for what it is that you need.

Consider your budget. You need to know exactly what amount you can afford to spend this time. You would definitely want to ensure that you will only spend the right amount this time around. Stick to numbers that are going to be within your paying capacity. Find out as many details as you can about these pairs as well. Do remember that the best quality ones that you can find are expected to be charged at a commensurate rate. If you are intent on finding the right pair, then make sure that you send enough too.

The kind of environment that you are going to use these boots for will need to be considered as well. You need to remember that the setting where you expect to use these boots for will play a crucial role in how you are going to utilize them. This is why you should always take the necessary steps to ensure that at the end of the day, you are able to get a pair that is exactly what you are in need of.

The quality of the pair that you will be getting should be considered as well. Always remember that there are a number of things that you need to consider if you are really hoping to take advantage of the best rate that you can find. This is good time for you to take a good look at the specific setting that you will be using the footwear for so at the end of the day, you are confident that you are getting one that is most useful for your needs.

Take a closer look at the way the pair is made. You need boots that are of the best quality possible. You need assurance that these are pairs that are expected to really last for a long time. The materials that they are made of and how they are made should be taken into account so you are sure that they are truly going to be most useful for you.

Boot Bomb’s Most Popular Pages

In Closing

There are many informative pages on the Boot Bomb. It started out as a site purely about hiking. But as the years went by, a passion for footwear grew into an obsession for it. I have many pages up on my site that I’d like you to have a look at. For hikers, I recommend that you have a look at my review of all the hiking boots that I’ve been able to research. Those are really good for when you want to take a long walk on a big mountain. If military style is more your thing, then please check out my combat boots web page. Thank you for coming to the Boot Bomb and let me know how I’m doing by sending me a message. I can never get enough of fan mail!

8 Comments

ok I need to cut through the chase to find me a good boot, I walk 90% working on cement floors at a Tractor supply co. walking, lifting, to forklift operator with a lot of up and downs. I get a real pain in my heel and mid foot area. What can you recommend for a starting spot for a good boot. If I am not working i am in my shop working on cars. and big in the outdoors.

I am 58, have arthritis, wide feet, and a bad left ankle that needs to be stabilized, hence I typically wear boots daily. So I need a wide pair that’s stable, light, waterproof (I do a lot if hunting/fishing) yet not really insulated since most of my time is in southern Louisiana (yes, it’s hot as hell). Any recommendations you can provide are appreciated. No real budget concerns.

Hi I really appreciate this site you helped me get the right boots for through hiking in the sierras and long distance in the high sierras now I am looking at a fun hike on the Na Pali Coast do i need a different shoe? Will my Targhees do the job? Any advice is much appreciated this is my first Hawaiian hike

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Hi, I'm Brian Bradshaw and I'm all about the hiking life. Welcome to the Boot Bomb, where I write about my favorite footwear & outdoor gear to my heart's content!

Do you want to find information and reviews about any type of hiking gear, footwear, or sports article? Try the search box above. If that doesn't help, have a look at the table of contents!

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